Weapon-mountable non-lethal optical security device

ABSTRACT

Provided is weapon-mountable laser distractor having an enclosure ( 100 ) with a top surface and bottom surface connected to each other by two side surfaces, a from surface and a rear surface. The top surface includes an articulated mounting adapter ( 150 ), the bottom surface includes controls ( 201 ), the front surface includes an integral optic cover ( 110 ) and a plurality of apertures ( 120, 130, 140 ). The enclosure ( 100 ) protects and surrounds a laser device including a battery module ( 490 ) in communication with an electronic module ( 470 ). The electronic module ( 470 ) controls a plurality of light generating modules ( 400, 405,410 ) which provide light to a plurality of optic modules ( 420, 425, 430 ). A controls module ( 440 ) or remote module ( 460 ) provides instructions to the electronic module. A display module ( 480 ) and an indicator module ( 450 ) are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/567,159 filed on Dec. 6, 2011, by RobertBattis, et al. titled “Dazer-Laser™ Stealth, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a multi-function weapon-mountablenon-lethal optical security device, and more particularly to aweapon-mountable optical distractor/laser device for opticallyilluminating, distracting or dazing a person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Low power white LED flash lights, fixed focus green lasers, and redsmall collimated beam target designation “pencil beam” lasers have beenused individually mounted to weapons. In most implementations, theoptical device is mounted in the 3, 6 or 9 O'clock positions on theweapon.

Optical distractors which operate by “dazing” a target are also known.Such a device is described in detail in several references, such as:provisional U.S. patent application No. 61/273,371 filed on Aug. 27,2009, by Robert Battis, et al. titled “Dazer Laser Mean BeamImprovement” (hereinafter, “Mean Beam Application”), PCT PatentApplication No. PCT/US11/38121, filed on Nov. 26, 2012 by Battis, etal., titled “Diode Pumped Solid State Green Laser” (hereinafter, “GreenLaser Application”), which are included herein by reference. This laser,suitable for this application provides the features of a small,efficient, compact and all solid state diode pumped, dual frequencyconversion green laser.

“Dazing” refers to the temporary, safe and reversible physiologicaleffect that a laser beam of radiation has on a subject person's eyes andbrain after the person has received a short dose of safe laserradiation. Dazing usually results in momentary flash blindness lasting afew seconds or as long as the beam is focused on someone's eyes,followed by a feeling of disorientation, and may also result in a mildheadache and motion sickness, which may last several hours. These dazingeffects are completely reversible, even after repeated darings. Thereare several useful articles describing the physiological background forthe effects of a dazing laser on a subject person. One such onlinearticle is entitled “Temporal Resolution” and is available athttp://webvison.med.utah.edu/temparal.html. Additional referencesinclude: “Flicker an Intermittent Stimulation”, Vision and VisualPerception, Graham, C. H., (ed), New York; John Wiley and Sons, Inc.,1965, and “Research into the Dynamic Nature of the Human Fovea: CortexSystems with Intermittent and Modulated Light, Phase Shift in Brightnessand Delay in Color Perception,” De Lange, J Opt Soe Am 48: 784-789(1958). Dazing is thus a potentially useful non-lethal form of weaponfor use in close quarters, for wanting or ocular interruption such asbut not limited to security and crowd control.

Examples of dazing laser devices are also taught in PCT PatentApplication Nos. PCT/US10/36893 and PCT/US10/36932, both to Battis, etal., also incorporated herein by reference. Green-variable focus opticaldistractors and red targeting lasers are also in use.

White LED flashlights have also been mounted on weapons, and are useful,in providing illumination of a potential near target. One disadvantageof using a conventional white LED weapon-mounted flashlight is that thewhite light will be visible, which will give the position of the useraway without triggering optical distraction of the threat target.

It is thus desirable to provide for a small, weapon-mountable devicewhich incorporates a green variable focus optical distractor, Hi powerwhite LED flashlight, and red targeting laser in one small integratedpackage that can be mounted in all weapon positions. This multi-functiondevice not only provides new and improved optical distraction usingvariable range and focus and MEAN Beam technology (see Mean BeamApplication) but allows the solder to remove duplicated devices from hisweapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a non-lethal multi-rangeweapon-mountable optical distractor which includes dazing lasertechnologies in a militarized package with special unique features andmultiple wavebands to enhance tactical effectiveness. In an embodiment,the DAZER LASER STEALTH™ by Laser Energetics, Inc., a maximum opticaleffectiveness within the ANSI safe limit from 1 meter to 1000 meters isprovided. In addition, optical effectiveness may be dialed down by theuser to suite an engagement scenario, for example: to provide a warninginstead of maximum optical distraction.

In another aspect of the invention, the weapon-mountable laserdistractor includes an enclosure with a top surface, bottom surface, thetop and bottom surfaces connected to each other by two side surfaces, afront surface and a rear surface. The top surface includes anarticulated mounting adapter. The bottom surface includes controls. Thefront surface includes an integral optic cover and a plurality ofapertures. The enclosure surrounds a laser device which includes abattery module m communication with an electronic module controlling aplurality of light generating modules which provide light to a pluralityof optic modules. The electronic module is also in communication with acontrols module, a display module (480), and an indicator module, andoptionally a remote module. In use, the electronic module drives one ofthe light generating modules to generate light which passes to one ofthe plurality of optic modules.

Additional aspects of the invention include the remote module being incommunication with the electronic module by either a wireless radiofrequency communication interface or by an electrical umbilical cord.

In another aspect of the Invention, the light generating modules Includea visible laser module, an infra-red (IR) laser module, and optionally avisible LED module. In an embodiment, the IR laser module and IR laseroptic module are controlled by the electronic module to generate eithera broad area coverage light beam or a pencil light beam for targeting,or, alternatively by two integrated but separate IR laser sourcesdefined as the IR laser module with separate optical paths through thelaser optic modules.

In another aspect of the invention, the visible laser module and visiblelaser optic module are controlled by the electronic module to generate acontinuously variable diverging laser beam for the purpose of optimizingeye optical distraction at any range within system limits.

In another aspect of the invention, the visible LED module generates awhite light for searching. The integral optic cover may be less than100% opaque, to allow the user to verify when light is being generated.

In another aspect of the invention, a mask having a symbol oralphanumeric characters may be provided with the optic cover to allowthe projection of a message and/or warning onto a distant surface.

Another aspect of the invention provides for pitch and yaw control. Inone embodiment, a yaw adjustment and a pitch adjustment is provided ascontrols on the enclosure. In another embodiment, the optic modulesfurther operate to adjustment pitch and to adjustment yaw in response tocontrol input to the controls module, or enclosure mechanical adjusters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawingfigures, in which like numerals represent like items throughout thefigures, and in which:

FIG. 1 provides perspective views of an exemplary opticaldistractor/laser device that are useful for understanding the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary optical distractor/laserdevice that is useful for understanding the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides perspective views of an exemplary opticaldistractor/laser device that are useful for understanding the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary optical distractor/laserdevice that is useful for understanding the present invention.

FIG. 5 provides perspective views of an exemplary opticaldistractor/laser device that are useful for understanding the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specificnumbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however,to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In some instances, well-knownfeatures may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the presentinvention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “oneembodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included In at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearancesof the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

An embodiment of the present invention, advantageously provides for asmall, weapon-mountable device which incorporates a green variable focusoptical distractor, Hi power white LED flashlight, and red targetinglaser in one small integrated package that can be mounted in all weaponpositions.

One embodiment of the invention, the DAZER LASER STEALTH™ by LaserEnergetics, inc., presents is a non-lethal multi-range opticaldistractor which combines the DAZER LASER™ technologies as provided inthe Mean Beam Application and the Green Laser Application, which areincluded herein by reference in their entireties, in a militarizedpackage with special unique features and multiple wavebands to enhancetactical effectiveness. The DAZER LASER STEALTH™ is also referred toherein as the “Stealth”, “the weapon-mountable laser distractor” orsimply “laser distractor”.

An embodiment of the invention includes a hand held or weapon mountablesmall light weight package, as depicted in FIG. 1. This laser distractorprojects a laser beam of radiation (120) which optically distracts andtemporarily impairs the vision of the threat. One embodiment of thepackage concept is illustrated in FIG. 1. The laser distractor usesLaser Energetics, Inc.'s MEAN Beam laser technology, which is explainedin greater detail in the Mean Beam Application, which drives the currentto the laser. In addition to a Green Laser optical distractor (120) modethe laser distractor includes other radiation modes, including, but notlimited to an IR Laser Illuminator/Target Designator (130) mode and aWhite LED Searchlight (140) mode for area illumination. The multipleapertures are protected by a weather sealed spring loaded integral opticcover (110).

The laser distractor also includes an optical zoom feature (220), or avariable range and focus feature, which is also described in furtherdetail in the Mean Beam Application, which allows the user to vary theradiation intensity or fluence at any desired range front 5 to 1000meters by adjusting the radiation beam size. The beam size is adjustedby the zoom control buttons (220), and the display (260) displays theselected range.

One embodiment of the present invention provides the ability to operatethe laser distractor with a remote control (300) button separatelytapped to the weapon. This feature allows the laser distractor to beoptically zoomed to any desired range, and to then allow radiation to beemitted from one of the apertures (120, 130, 140) as preselected by themode control (240) switch. The display [260] shows the range setting forthe laser mode selected. The remote control button may he eithertethered to the laser distractor by an electrical umbilical cord orcommunicate with it using a wireless RF (radio frequency) link. In orderto increase battery life, the remote control mode is preferablyactivated by the remote control (230) switch.

The laser distractor is normally activated by the lire button (250),which immediately allows radiation to be emitted from one of the opticapertures based on the control switch mode (240) selected. If the Remotecontrol (230) is activated, the Fire button (250) is also active.Radiation at normal intensity will be emitted from the optic aperturesalter the Integral optic cover (110) is manually opened. This cover(110) is preferably opened by spring action by relieving the slide latchwith a linger or thumb.

The cover (110) is designed to be less than 100% opaque to allow a traceamount of radiation to be visible to the user. This allows the user toverify proper operation of the selected radiation mode without exposinghis position in a tactical situation. In addition to the marginalopacity of the cover, there are fiduciary marks which allow the user tojudge whether the laser beams are set for short, mid or long range.

In addition to the tactical radiation modes herein described, the laserdistractor provides a training mode wherein the green laser opticaldistractor (120) aperture is reduced in power to the point where it willnot daze an individual, but will produce sufficient radiation to allowtraining in optical zoom control and development of short range tactics.

An embodiment of the invention also includes an articulated mountingadapter (150) which allows the laser distractor to be connected to anyweapon's standard Picatinny Rail and incorporates pitch and yawadjustment, for the purpose of bore-sighting the laser distractor to aweapon's target aiming device. An additional feature of this mount andthe design of the laser distractor package is that it may be mountedbelow the weapon, and to-the right and left sides (3, 6 and 9 o'clockpositions) with all features ergonomically accessible.

Key infernal elements of the various embodiments of the laser distractorare illustrated in FIG. 2. These elements are described as follows:

-   1) Visible laser module [400]: Optical Distraction Green Laser    operating at 532 nm, controlled by a LEI's MEAN Beam laser    technology from the microprocessor in the electronics module.-   2) IR LASER module [405]: IR Laser operating at 860 or 880 nm which    is used as a source for area Illumination (flooding) or Target    Designation (pointing).-   3) Visible LED module [410]: 150 to 250-lumen white LED source tor    short range visible area Illumination (flooding).-   4) Visible LASER optic module [420]: Focusable optic module used to    project and focus the laser beam between 5-1000 meters.-   5) IR LASER Optic module [425]: Focusable optic module used to    project and focus the IR laser beam from a wide beam for area    flooding to a pencil beam for targeting.-   6) Visible LED optic module [430]: Fixed focus optic to project the    LED light with moderate divergence for short range illumination.-   7) Controls module [440]: Electro-mechanical switch to control    operating modes through the microprocessor.-   8) Indicator module [450]: A series of LED indicators controlled by    the microprocessor, for example: power on, low battery, laser firing    and remote enabled.-   9) Remote module [460]: Short range RF receiver and decoder to    interpret the 3 signals from the remote button.-   10) Control electronics module [470]: Microprocessor based    electronics that controls all aspects of the Stealth-   11) Display module [480]: Display to show laser beam range setting    or focused range for selected laser mode.-   12) Battery module [490]: Formed cavity to contain multiple    commercial, batteries with proper electrical connection to the    electronics module.

The laser distractor package features a hermetically sealed envelopecontaining all the key internal elements listed above, except thebattery module. This envelop is pressurized to <1 atmosphere with drynitrogen. The battery module is sealed by a threaded end cover [160] tothe prevailing atmospheric pressure.

One embodiment of the invention referred to in FIG. 1 as “StealthConcept A” is characterized by the 12 internal features listed above andthe external articulated mounting adapter (150) which allows the Stealthto be connected to any weapon's standard Picatinny Rail. Anotherimportant embodiment, referred to in FIG. 3 as “Stealth Concept B”, hasthe articulated mounting adapter (150) replaced with a articulated sidemounting adapter (155) that is secured to the weapon's Picatinny Rail inboth left and right configurations, and without pitch and yawadjustment. The pitch adjustment (156) and yaw adjustment (157) in theembodiment of FIG. 3 are placed on the laser distractor body and controlinternal elements associated with the optical beam projections. “StealthConcept B” also adds additional status indicators, shifts the locationof certain elements and adds body features, all not critical to theunderlying concept, but result in a unique Stealth Concept B deviceenclosure (105).

Moving the pitch and yaw adjustments from the articulated mountingadapter (150) to the Stealth B device enclosure (105) provides animportant internal change to the “Stealth Concept A” internal elementsas illustrated In FIG. 2. This change is illustrated in FIG. 4 with theaddition of the optical bench (401), which controls the pointingdirection or bore sighting of both the visible laser (400) and IR laser(405) with respect to the Picatinny Rail attached to the articulatedside mounting adapter (155). All other internal elements of the “StealthConcept B” are essentially the same as those of the “Stealth Concept A”embodiments.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is provided as “Stealth ConceptC” and illustrated In FIG. 5. “Stealth Concept C” is a modification of“Stealth Concept B” in which the internal components and enclosurecontrols are shifted to allow a top surface cavity (107) to be formed.This Cavity allows the “Stealth Concept C” laser distractor to bemounted to a weapon's top Picatinny rail or 12 O'clock position withoutinterfering with the field of view of the weapon's telescope field ofview (FOV) or mounting. A “Stealth Concept C” laser distractor mayalternatively be mounted to any of the other three weapon rail positions(3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions).

The “Stealth Concept C” laser distractor also features a built-in railadapter (158) located on the bottom of the enclosure (106) and rail camlever (159), thus eliminating the external articulated side mountingadapter (155) and articulated mounting adapter (150). The rail adapter(158) is a “Stealth Concept C” enclosure (106) molded negative form ofthe Picatinny Rail with one side notched to allow the rail cam lever(159) to engage the rail and lock the laser distractor to this PicatinnyRail.

In addition, the “Stealth Concept C” apertures are relocated and theaperture cover is called the rotating optic cover (112), which coversonly the IR and green laser apertures and rotates about the white LEDaperture. The cover retainer (113) is an enclosure molded feature tohold the cover when open. Otherwise, the “Stealth Concept C” laserdistractor retains all other features of the “Stealth Concept A” and“Stealth Concept B”, not specifically delineated here.

Summary Comparison of Stealth Models

The following table identifies the key differences between theembodiments of the invention identified above as “Stealth Concept”models “A”, “B” and “C”:

Feature Stealth Concept A Stealth Concept B Stealth Concept C Emittedwavelengths Expanded to 4 Modes, Electronics Essentially the same butindicators expanded and locations of controls modified & ControlsPicatinny Rail Top of enclosure attached Top of enclosure. RequiresBottom of enclosure, Attachment to in-line top module separate bracketeither offset directly mounted to added to main enclosure. “L” orstraight bracket enclosure. No separate brackets or modules requiredWeapon 3, 6, 9 O'clock but 3, 6, 9 O'clock with no 3, 6, 9 & 12 O'clockattachment Stealth rotated in 3 and Stealth rotation with Stealthrotation in positions 9 O'clock positions the 3, 6, 9 O'clock Pitch andYaw External-top mounted Internal with enclosure Same as B Adjustmentmodule mounted sealed adjustment knobs Aperture Cover Flip coverattached Removable cover on straps Rotating cover Battery Operation 2-4Cr123A 2 CR123A Same as B Remote switch Same control Size & Weight 4 ×2.5 × 2.75, <1 lb 4.2 × 2.9 × 2.5, <1 lb 3.5 × 3.8 × 2.3, <13 oz

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. Weapon-mountable laser distractor comprising: an enclosure (100)comprising a top surface, bottom surface, the top and bottom surfacesconnected to each other by two side surfaces, a from surface and a rearsurface; the top surface comprising an articulated mounting adapter(150); the bottom surface comprising controls (201); the front surfacecomprising an Integral optic cover (110) and a plurality of apertures(120, 130, 140); the enclosure (100) surrounding a laser device furthercomprising a battery module (490) in communication with an electronicmodule (470), the electronic module (470) controlling a plurality oflight generating modules (400, 405, 410) which provide light to aplurality of optic modules (420, 425, 430), or shared optic module; theelectronic module (470) further in communication with a controls module(440), a display module (480), and an-indicator module (450); wherein,in use, the electronic module (470) drives one of the plurality of lightgenerating modules (400, 405, 410) to generate light which passes to oneof the plurality of optic modules (420, 425, 430).
 2. Theweapon-mountable laser distractor according to claim 1, furthercomprising a remote module 460 in communication with the electronicmodule (470) for command input.
 3. The weapon-mountable laser distractoraccording to claim 2, wherein the remote module (460) communicates withthe electronic module (470) by wireless radio frequency communication.4. The weapon-mountable laser distractor according to claim 2, whereinthe remote module (460) communicates with the electronic module (470) byan electrical umbilical cord.
 5. The weapon-mountable laser distractoraccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light generating modules(400, 405) comprises a visible laser module (400) and an infra-red (IR)laser module (405).
 6. The weapon-mountable laser distractor accordingto claim 5, wherein the IR laser module (405) and IR laser optic module(425) are controlled by the electronic-module (470) to generate either abroad area coverage light beam or a pencil light beam for targeting, oralternatively by two integrated but separate IR laser sources defined asthe IR laser module (405) with separate optical paths through the laseroptic modules.
 7. The weapon-mountable laser distractor according toclaim 5, wherein the visible laser module (400) and visible laser opticmodule (420) are controlled by the electronic module (470) to generate acontinuously variable diverging laser beam for the purpose of optimizingeye optical distraction at any range within system limits.
 8. Theweapon-mountable laser distractor according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of light generating modules (400, 405, 410) comprises avisible laser module (400), an infra-red (IR) laser module (405) and avisible LED module (410).
 9. The weapon-mountable laser distractoraccording to claim 8, wherein the visible LED module (410) generates awhite light for searching.
 10. The weapon-mountable laser distractoraccording to claim 1, wherein the optic cover (110) is less than 100%opaque.
 11. The weapon-mountable laser distractor according to claim 10,wherein the optic cover (110) further comprises an alpha-numeric maskfor shaping a laser beam to project a message.
 12. The weapon-mountablelaser distractor according to claim 10, wherein the optic cover (110)further comprises a mask comprising a symbol for shaping a laser beam toproject a message.
 13. The weapon-mountable laser distractor accordingto claim 1, wherein the enclosure (100) further comprises a pitchadjustment (156) for controlling pitch and a yaw adjustment (157) forcontrolling yaw.
 14. The weapon-mountable laser distractor according toclaim 1, wherein one or more optic modules (420, 425, 430) furtheroperate to adjustment pitch and to adjustment yaw in response to thecontrols module (440) and/or pitch, adjustment (156) and yaw adjustment(157).
 15. The weapon-mountable laser distractor according to claim 1,wherein the articulated mounting adapter (150) is configured to allowmounting the distractor on a weapon at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 O'clockpositions.
 16. the weapon-mountable laser distractor according to claim1, wherein the body is contoured and mechanically configured to allow itto mount to a weapon at the 12 O'clock position, without, addedbrackets, and without, interfering with a weapon telescope.